Container liner reflective on both sides and spaced from container wall

ABSTRACT

A liner for a shipping container or the like has a sheet of reflective material spaced from the inner walls of the container by spacers.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates a liner for lining a container, such as ashipping container, railway container, trucking container, storagecontainer, transport container or the like. Such containers are used forfreight forwarding. In particular, the present invention relates tocontainer liners for use with temperature-sensitive cargoes.

Such shipping containers generally have one end that comprises alockable door or doors. The containers are loaded with produce and goodsby opening the door or doors and stacking the produce and goods insidethe container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wine is one example of a temperature-sensitive cargo, it is sensitivenot only to extremes of temperature but also to rates of change oftemperature.

Australia currently exports about fifty thousand shipping containers ofwine a year by sea It is currently the practise for the contents ofshipping containers, such as cartons of wine bottles, to be placed closeto or hard up against the vertical sides of the shipping containers.This results in direct conductive, radiative and convective heatexchange between the wall of the shipping container and the product.Some heat exchange also takes place between the roof of the shippingcontainer and the product. The outermost layers of product tend toprovide some thermal protection for inner layers of product.

International and domestic transportation of bottled wine can lead toclosure failure and quality loss through exposure to elevatedtemperatures. Damaged products can be represented by obvious cork pushor closure failure, but wine quality loss can be far more deceptive andoften unnoticed by the producer. It has been shown that quality losswill occur when wine is exposed to temperatures above 30° C. for aslittle as thirty days. A wine consumer may not identify the root of theproblem, but may decide that the wine is generally unappealing and failto purchase that brand again.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention provides a method ofinsulating a shipping container or the like, comprising the provision ofa first layer of sheet material having opposed sides and beingreflective on both of those opposed sides, placed inwardly from eachside wall of the container and separated from the wall of the containersuch that one opposed side faces the wall of the container and the otheropposed side faces inwardly into the container.

It is preferred that the method of insulating a shipping containerfurther comprises the provision of a second layer of sheet materialhaving opposed sides and being reflective on both of those opposedsides, placed inwardly from the first layer of sheet material andseparated from the first layer of sheet material such that one opposedside faces the at least one layer of sheet material and the otheropposed side faces inwardly into the container.

It is further preferred that the method of insulating a shippingcontainer or the like further comprises the provision of a first layerof sheet material having opposed sides and being reflective on both ofthose opposed sides, placed inwardly from the roof of the container andseparated from the roof of the container such that one opposed sidefaces the roof of the container and the other opposed side facesinwardly into the container.

It is further preferred that the method of insulating a shippingcontainer further comprises the provision of a second layer of sheetmaterial having opposed sides and being reflective on both of thoseopposed sides, placed inwardly from the first layer of sheet materialthat is placed inwardly from the roof and separated from the first layerof sheet material that is placed inwardly from the roof such that oneopposed side faces the at least one layer of sheet material that isplaced inwardly from the roof and the other opposed side faces inwardlyinto the container.

It is further preferred that the method of insulating a shippingcontainer or the like further comprises the provision of a first layerof sheet material having opposed sides and being reflective on both ofthose opposed sides, placed outwardly from the container contentsadjacent the doors of the container and separated from the containercontents such that one opposed side faces the doors of the container andthe other opposed side faces inwardly into the container.

It is further preferred that the method of insulating a shippingcontainer or the like further comprises the provision of a second layerof sheet material having opposed sides and being reflective on both ofthose opposed sides, placed outwardly from the first layer of sheetmaterial that is adjacent the doors of the container and separated formthat first layer of sheet material by a gap such that one opposed sidefaces the doors of the container and the other opposed side facesinwardly into the container.

It is preferred that the clearance between the first layer of sheetmaterial and the walls of the container is in the range of 15millimetres to 25 millimetres. It is especially preferred that each suchclearance is substantially 20 millimetres.

It is preferred that the clearance between the first layer of sheetmaterial and the second layer of sheet material is in the range of 15millimetres to 25 millimetres. It is especially preferred that each suchclearance is substantially 20 millimetres.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a liner fora shipping container or the like, the liner being adapted so that, whenin use, it presents a first reflective side towards the sides of thecontainer and a second reflective side inwards to the container, theliner comprising:

-   -   a first layer of sheet material having first and second opposed        sides and being reflective on both of those opposed sides, the        first one of the opposed sides:        -   carrying a plurality of spacers; and        -   being adapted to form the first reflective side of the            liner.

It is preferred that the liner further comprises:

-   -   a plurality of spacers carried on the second of the opposed        sides of the first layer of sheet material; and    -   a second layer of sheet material:        -   having opposed sides and being reflective on both of those            opposed sides; and        -   being affixed to the spacers that are carried on the second            of the opposed sides of the first layer of sheet material.

It is preferred that the liner is:

-   -   configured in a folded form; and    -   adapted to be unfolded from the folded form in the course of        installation in a container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, preferredembodiments of it are described with reference to the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is s photograph which illustrates details of two alternativepreferred embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a photograph which illustrates a preferred embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 3 is a photograph which illustrates details of further preferredembodiments of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a photograph which illustrates details of yet furtherpreferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates embodiments of the invention. The figure shows ashipping container which has four side walls, one of which is indicatedby the reference numeral 1. Reference numeral 2 in FIG. 1 indicates aspacer 2 which has been affixed to the wall 1 by double-sided adhesivetape. The spacer 2 according to this embodiment of the invention isformed by multiple layers of cardboard that have been fixed together inlayers by use of adhesive. The surface of the spacer 2 that facesinwards of the shipping container also carries double-sided adhesivetape that is not illustrated in the figure. Reference numeral 2 in FIG.1 shows a spacer 3 which has also been affixed to the wall 1 usingdouble-sided adhesive tape, but the spacer 3 according to thisembodiment is a length of polystyrene or any other suitable plasticsmaterial. Again, the surface of the spacer 3 that faces inwards of theshipping container also carries double-sided adhesive tape that is notillustrated in the figure.

FIG. 2 shows the installation of a first layer of doubly-reflectivesheet material into a shipping container which has had spacers affixedto the walls. The doubly-reflective sheet material has a plastics foilbase and has a reflective coating on each side of the foil. According tothis embodiment of the invention, the doubly-reflective sheet materialis prepared in rolls, the width of each roll matching the height of ashipping container. The sheet material is unrolled firmly against thespacers such as 2 or 3, so that it is spaced from the walls of theshipping container.

According to yet further embodiments of the invention, a second layer ofdoubly-reflective sheet material is applied over the first such layer,using spacers that are affixed to the first such layer and inwardly ofit.

For the region of the shipping container that is adjacent the doors, apreferred methodology of installing the doubly-reflective material is toaffix it through the medium of the spacers to the cargo, rather than tothe doors of the container. That is, spacers such as are illustrate inFIG. 1 are attached to the packaging that contains the cargo (such ascartons of bottled wine). A layer of doubly-reflective sheet material isapplied to the exposed surface of those spacers. It is preferred that asecond layer of doubly-reflective sheet material is then applied by themechanism of affixing spacers to the first layer and affixing sheetmaterial to those spacers.

Another preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 4.The embodiment of FIG. 4 uses cardboard material that has opposedreflective sides. The cardboard material is supplied in a single length,the length of corresponding to the aggregate internal length of thecontainer walls and doors and of a width appropriate to the height ofthe container. Spacers, preferably of sponge rubber, are pre-attached tothe length of cardboard. The length of cardboard when supplied forinstallation has been folded at fold-lines along across its width sothat it folds as a pack. When the liner is in the folded pack form, thesponge rubber spacers compress so that the pack occupies less volumethan it would otherwise do.

Installation of a liner 30 according to this embodiment of the inventioninto a shipping container 31 is illustrated in FIG. 3. The liner in theform as supplied of a folded pack is stood on edge adjacent thecontainer doors 32 and 33. One free end 34 of the liner 30 is clamped tothe outer edge region of the door 32 using readily detachable-clamps 37and 38. Similarly the other free end 36 of the liner 30 is clamped tothe outer edge region of the door 33 using readily-detachable clamps 39and 41. The region of the liner between its two free ends 34 and 36 isthen unfolded by a worker who moves towards the end of the containeropposite the doors 32 and 33 and who places the unfolding portions ofthe liner adjacent the side walls of the container 31 as they areunfolded, finally moving the appropriate part of the liner 30 into placeadjacent the end wall of the container 31. Spacers that werepre-attached to the liner 30 maintain spacing between the liner 30 andthe walls of the container 31.

This embodiment of the invention does not require the use of adhesive tohold the spacers, and consequentially the liner 30 in place as therigidity of the cardboard comprising the liner 30 causes the liner tostay in place.

According to further embodiments of the invention a layer of doublyreflective sheet material 41 is similarly placed adjacent the roof ofthe container, using spacers affixed to the roof. A preferred form ofsuch a layer of material, and a preferred methodology of installing itin the container, is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Preferred materialsfor the sheet 41 include plastics sheeting and more preferablypolystyrene sheet material.

Shipping containers have anchoring hooks fitted adjacent their roof areaas a standard fitting. The layer of roof material 41 preferably includesa set of tapes [that are not illustrated in the figure] adjacent itsperiphery for attachment of the roof material 41 to the container 31. Itis preferred that the roof material 41 be mounted so that there is a gapof about 150 mm between it and the container roof.

While the present invention has been described with reference to a fewspecific embodiments, the description is illustrative of the inventionand is not to be construed as limiting the invention. Variousmodifications may occur to those skilled in the art without departingfrom the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

“Comprises/comprising” when used in this specification is taken tospecify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or componentsbut does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more otherfeatures, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

1. A method of insulating a shipping container or the like, comprisingthe provision of a first layer of sheet material having opposed sidesand being reflective on both of those opposed sides, placed inwardlyfrom each side wall of the container and separated from the wall of thecontainer by a gap such that one opposed side faces the wall of thecontainer and the other opposed side faces inwardly into the container.2. A method of insulating a shipping container or the like as claimed inclaim 1, further comprising the provision of a second layer of sheetmaterial having opposed sides and being reflective on both of thoseopposed sides, placed inwardly from the first layer of sheet materialand separated from the first layer of sheet material by a gap such thatone opposed side faces the at least one layer of sheet material and theother opposed side faces inwardly into the container.
 3. A method ofinsulating a shipping container or the like as claimed in claim 1,further comprising the provision of a layer of sheet material havingopposed sides and being reflective on both of those opposed sides,placed inwardly from the roof of the container and separated from theroof of the container by a gap such that one opposed side faces the roofof the container and the other opposed side faces inwardly into thecontainer.
 4. A method of insulating a shipping container or the like asclaimed in claim 1, further comprising the provision of a second layerof sheet material having opposed sides and being reflective on both ofthose opposed sides, placed inwardly from the first layer of sheetmaterial that is placed inwardly from the roof and separated from thefirst layer of sheet material by a gap, the second layer of sheetmaterial being placed inwardly from the roof such that one opposed sidefaces the first layer of sheet material that is placed inwardly from theroof and the other opposed side faces inwardly into the container.
 5. Amethod of insulating a shipping container or the like as claimed inclaim 1, further comprising the provision of a first layer of sheetmaterial having opposed sides and being reflective on both of thoseopposed sides, placed outwardly from the container contents adjacent thedoors of the container and separated from the container contents by agap such that one opposed side faces the doors of the container and theother opposed side faces inwardly into the container.
 6. A method ofinsulating a shipping container or the like as claimed in claim 5,further comprising the provision of a second layer of sheet materialhaving opposed sides and being reflective on both of those opposedsides, placed outwardly from the first layer of sheet material that isadjacent the doors of the container and separated form that first layerof sheet material by a gap such that one opposed side faces the doors ofthe container and the other opposed side faces inwardly into thecontainer.
 7. A method of insulating a shipping container or the like asclaimed in claim 1, in which the clearance between the first layer ofsheet material and the walls of the container is in the range of 15millimetres to 25 millimetres.
 8. A method of insulating a shippingcontainer or the like as claimed in claim 7, in which the clearancebetween the first layer of sheet material and the walls of the containeris substantially 20 millimetres.
 9. A method of insulating a shippingcontainer or the like as claimed claim 2, in which the clearance betweenthe first layer of sheet material and the second layer of sheet materialis in the range of 15 millimetres to 25 millimetres.
 10. A method ofinsulating a shipping container or the like as claimed in claim 7, inwhich the clearance between the first layer of sheet material and thesecond layer of sheet material is substantially 20 millimetres.
 11. Aliner for a shipping container or the like, the liner being adapted sothat, when in use, it presents a first reflective side towards the sidesof the container and a second reflective side inwards to the container,the liner comprising: a first layer of sheet material having first andsecond opposed sides and being reflective on both of those opposedsides, the first one of the opposed sides: carrying a plurality ofspacers; and being adapted to form the first reflective side of theliner.
 12. A liner for a shipping container or the like as claimed inclaim 11, the liner further comprising: a plurality of spacers carriedon the second of the opposed sides of the first layer of sheet material;and a second layer of sheet material: having opposed sides and beingreflective on both of those opposed sides; and being affixed to thespacers that are carried on the second of the opposed sides of the firstlayer of sheet material.
 13. A liner for a shipping container or thelike as claimed in claim 12, the liner being: configured in a foldedform; and adapted to be unfolded from the folded form in the course ofinstallation in a container. 14-17. (canceled)